Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 10:41 am  

I know i might be tempting fate, and expecting a winding-up petition, or some missed wages to destroy the optimism, but coming away from the game yesterday, and seeing the implosions of others, i can't help feeling the club is a in a good place at the moment and we are heading in the right direction (at long last).

Salford selling their best players, along with a mountain of debt and no academy, Leigh releasing the players that were the soul of the club, and replacing them with players that just don't care for the badge. Meanwhile we are chugging a long nicely.

Yes there are some issues, like social media, press releases etc But on the rugby side, i think Chalmers has got it bang on. Yes we're in L1 and have only beaten Keighley, and very luckily nicked a win against York. The wins aren't what are making me optimistic, it's the whole feel of the club. We have some very talented young players in the academy who in the main, are all on long term deals. We have a reserves to allow the young players to develop, and maybe even find another Stuart Reardon, who comes from the amateur setup to break through. We have a coach full of integrity, the players want to play for, and IMO, won't be outthought by the opposition.

The main reason though was the way the players applied themselves yesterday. The 54-6 scoreline is irrelevant. It was the actions of the players that proved to me the players damn well care for this club. A young squad who we can build with, who have a stake in our club either by HG, or are Bradford lads/fans. Celebrating a knock-on, defending a team-mate who might be roughed up. Standing up the opposition when they try bully us (i genuinely think we some of the Keighley bully boys got put in their place yesterday by the likes of Flanagan, Peltier etc)

I'm not saying this is the grand return to SL, far from it, but watching Leigh mercenaries destroy the club that Leigh built up, I can't help compare them and our 2016 mob to our current squad. The 2016 lot wouldn't have won against York. They didn't have the mental strength or the desire. Seeing players genuinely care for the badge, and have a connection with the fans, and club makes me think we have finally begun the path to rebuilding, and we have the right payers, coaches, setup to do it. I'm genuinely enjoying watching Bradford again, not because we're winning, but because the players care as much as the fans do.

Now Mr Chalmers, no delayed wages, or WUP please

Re: Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 10:53 am  

Bull Mania wrote:

I know i might be tempting fate, and expecting a winding-up petition, or some missed wages to destroy the optimism, but coming away from the game yesterday, and seeing the implosions of others, i can't help feeling the club is a in a good place at the moment and we are heading in the right direction (at long last).

Salford selling their best players, along with a mountain of debt and no academy, Leigh releasing the players that were the soul of the club, and replacing them with players that just don't care for the badge. Meanwhile we are chugging a long nicely.

Yes there are some issues, like social media, press releases etc But on the rugby side, i think Chalmers has got it bang on. Yes we're in L1 and have only beaten Keighley, and very luckily nicked a win against York. The wins aren't what are making me optimistic, it's the whole feel of the club. We have some very talented young players in the academy who in the main, are all on long term deals. We have a reserves to allow the young players to develop, and maybe even find another Stuart Reardon, who comes from the amateur setup to break through. We have a coach full of integrity, the players want to play for, and IMO, won't be outthought by the opposition.

The main reason though was the way the players applied themselves yesterday. The 54-6 scoreline is irrelevant. It was the actions of the players that proved to me the players damn well care for this club. A young squad who we can build with, who have a stake in our club either by HG, or are Bradford lads/fans. Celebrating a knock-on, defending a team-mate who might be roughed up. Standing up the opposition when they try bully us (i genuinely think we some of the Keighley bully boys got put in their place yesterday by the likes of Flanagan, Peltier etc)

I'm not saying this is the grand return to SL, far from it, but watching Leigh mercenaries destroy the club that Leigh built up, I can't help compare them and our 2016 mob to our current squad. The 2016 lot wouldn't have won against York. They didn't have the mental strength or the desire. Seeing players genuinely care for the badge, and have a connection with the fans, and club makes me think we have finally begun the path to rebuilding, and we have the right payers, coaches, setup to do it. I'm genuinely enjoying watching Bradford again, not because we're winning, but because the players care as much as the fans do.

Now Mr Chalmers, no delayed wages, or WUP please

Absolutely bang on. And getting John Kear was a fantastic bit of business too. My optimism grows....

Re: Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 10:59 am  

On the field everything is definitely better, in fact the best it's been in a long time. And by "on field", I include coaching staff.

Financially, it's hard to say when I'm sure someone said the accounts haven't yet been published? So difficult to say if it's genuinely stable or if they're just not telling us about any impending doom or money hemorrhaging.

The fanbase could be the biggest issue the club has. With the amount of people's they've alienated in recent years and the recent issues regarding social media, organisation at the turnstiles and pricing, it's going to be a difficult job getting those people back. Hopefully once they're happy the on field is stable, they can refocus the efforts into getting fans back on board.

Re: Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:14 am  

Nope, nope. nope.

It's all f***ed, we're going to hell in a handcart. Terrible things are just round the corner. Wheels about to fall off. Dogs and cats living together. Mass Hysteria.

I've been burnt once too often by the way this club is run to actually get my hopes up. However, that being said, the addition of John Kear as head coach along with the fact we've actually come through a winter break without WUP/Unpaid Bills/Unpaid Wages/Top Players breaking contract to leave does suggest that maybe, just maybe, things might be starting to go in the right direction for the club.

But I have to agree that the main issue the club faces is getting the fans back on side. Last year was a perfect chance to get fans to back the board and the club following the club being forced to participate in the Championship with virtually no money and no players and being fined for the privilege. If the board had called a fans forum back in Feb and said the things that were said in the end of season fans forum, I think a lot more fans would have been more forgiving of the performances and results the club had and likely would have seen a better return on the season ticket sales.

The fan base is still there, the club just has to do something to get them back through the gates of Odsal.

[Bullseye]

Re: Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:32 am  

As I said on the match thread I think on the field we’ve definitely turned a corner. The spirit in the camp is undeniable. Without wanting to tempt fate I’m hopeful it’s not another false dawn. We’ve got the right man in charge in Kear and have a young team that’s only going to improve. Off the field there’s still plenty of room for improvement but so long as there’s steady progress I’ll remain happy.

Leigh do certainly remind me of us in 2016. To many players coming in and going out and a change of coach mid season to a man who is untried. Lots of paralells. I can only hope for their fans sakes that it’s not the start of a decline. As for Salford things there look very bad to me, selling your best players to pay bills only leads one way as we all know.

Anyway, for us it looks like we’re on the right track. As for attracting fans back I think that will happen in time. Some probably need a break after all the goings on since 2012 but they will return eventually. Others like me are really enjoying the ride at the moment. I’d like to see the club increase its presence in the community via the Foundation. Back in 95/96 the club was in the news every day with a non rugby related story where players and staff were doing stuff with schools, junior clubs, youth organisations, old people homes, charities etc. Lets see more of that. It builds a connection and brings in more fans.

Re: Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 1:29 pm  

Out of all the players to come through our academy and make it, you picked Stu Reardon as your example?

Re: Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 2:03 pm  

You've jinxed it now. We are knackered.

Re: Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 6:25 pm  

Nothus wrote:

Out of all the players to come through our academy and make it, you picked Stu Reardon as your example?

Ha, i meant it in that he was playing amateur rugby league, then moved to the Bulls. Can happen again with a reserves setup. Players who weren't quite good enough at junior, go back to their amateur club and develop. I think Jake Truemans brother who plays for Wesy Bowling played in our first reserve game.

Re: Stability : Mon Mar 12, 2018 6:57 pm  

Bull Mania wrote:

Ha, i meant it in that he was playing amateur rugby league, then moved to the Bulls. Can happen again with a reserves setup. Players who weren't quite good enough at junior, go back to their amateur club and develop. I think Jake Truemans brother who plays for Wesy Bowling played in our first reserve game.

Yes I agree with you. Let's hope it gives young local lads the opportunity to have a chance of giving it a go and seeing where it takes them

Yes Jake's brother Max played for the reserves last week. A good lad, Elliot played a lot of years at West Bowling juniors with him, hope he gets a good run in the reserves and shows what he can do

Re: Stability : Tue Mar 13, 2018 9:42 am  

Nothus wrote:

Out of all the players to come through our academy and make it, you picked Stu Reardon as your example?

He did win the 2003 Harry Sunderland Trophy and scored four tries in 5 matches in the 2004 Tri Nations, against the Aussies and Kiwis, so not to be sniffed at. I do take your point about him not being the first example I'd pick from our Academy products but he did have some success in his career and a local lad to boot.